Audrey's Adventures in Real Estate

Gorgeous Silver Spring Colonial

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:50:32 -0600

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

206 Whitmoor Terrace, Silver Spring, MD

Picture perfect Woodmoor brick colonial

4BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $469,900

Year Built	1951
Sq Footage	1,290
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	6,503 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful home near 4 corners. Hardwood flooring through out 2 upper levels. Large living room with fireplace. Newer appliances in kitchen. Large sunroom addition off of main level. Expansive Trex deck and gorgeous two level paver patio that back to trees & parkland. Vinyl replacement windows through out. Many updates!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Hardwood floor	- Living room	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Basement	- Washer	- Dryer
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 1	Photo 2

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 23, 2009, 6:39am PST

Choose Your Words Carefully

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:46:58 -0600

I just love my friend Clint. He tells it like it is and is on point with this. Some of us may need to rethink our marketing and taglines . . .

Via Clint Miller (Real Estate Client Referrals, LLC (RECR)):

Let's take a quick quiz...

Name the companies that use the following tag-lines.

1. The Real Thing
2. The King of Beers
3. Mmm mmm mmm mmm good
4. Good to the last drop

Pretty simple stuff, right?

Coke is the "real" thing. (After all, Coke was first on the scene in the cola world. So, you can either have the real cola, or an imitation, right?) Let's look at Budweiser. Long has it been known that Budweiser is the "king" of beers. (It doesn't get any better than being the king. The king is the top of the heap, the head honcho, the alpha dog. Why would you associate with something that isn't the best??) Campbell's soup is "mmmm mmmm" good. Folgers coffee really is "good to the last drop".

Recognize the pattern yet? Did you catch what was being said?

All of these tag lines have been used by these very successful companies for years. Not because they are excellent brand references that people have literally heard for years...although that is certainly true...but because they SELL! Not only do the help sell the product, they sell the brand.

How much more effective could your advertising be if you treated your tag line -- your branding slogan, if you will -- as a sales opportunity rather than a contest to see who can come up with the cutest catch-phrase??

You can immediately improve your own tag line and achieve better results from your advertising by simply changing the words you use to words that actually mean something. For example, what's the more effective tag line....

1. Your (honest, hard-working, professional, friendly...feel free to insert any other adjectives here) real estate expert for life.

Or...

2. Working to deliver the best results for you. Always.

I can tell you from personal experience, if I had a dollar for every time I have seen the first one on a website, business card, flyer, postcard, etc, I could retire. It is probably one of the most over-used and, forgive me for saying so, weakest tag line an agent could use.(Hey, someone has to be honest with those of you that use some form of this line...)

There are a group of words that are used in real estate advertising that just simply don't deliver the punch that the agents thinks they deliver. Here is a list of words you should avoid:

FRIENDLY -- Of course your friendly. You work in a position that requires it. I have never met a single agent ever anywhere that doesn't possess the ability to at least fake his/her way through an appointment appearing to be friendly. Go to an appoint and be an ass and see how far that gets ya...

PROFESSIONAL -- Ummm...duh. I would hope so. Why would you waste valuable advertising space promoting something that the client is already expecting to exist merely by the fact that you hold the position that you do. McDonald's food is safe to eat. Fords will help you get from point A to point B. My service is professional. See the problem??

HONEST -- (See friendly and professional)

HARD-WORKING -- I have met very few agents in this industry that are not working hard. I have met a bunch that don't work very smart, but I think all of them work hard. Do you really want to be measured by how many more hours you will spend working for them versus how many hours your competition will put in? Or, would you rather be measured by how much more effective you are at selling homes?

Pretty much any word that you can use as an adjective about yourself falls into this category including knowledgeable, reliable, trustworthy (dear Lord, please don't use this one!!) etc...

Now, by the same token, there is a group of powerful words that can be used to deliver a better message about your ability and maintain the aspects of your ability that the client is already assuming exist within you. Those are:

RESULTS -- People are buying results when they hire you. It only makes sense to promote that fact in your tag line. You are hired to sell a home. That is a result that your client wanted. Bring that to the forefront so that other clients know you can deliver those results.

DELIVER -- Delivering something is hugely important. You are bringing them something they want. I order a pizza...I don't want to go get it. I want it brought to me. Bring me something I value and I will pay you for it. Do it well, and I will tell other people.

BEST -- Being the best at anything positive will bring you results. Be the best blogger in your area, you will get clients from it. Being the best at any aspect of your job gives the ability for you to leverage this aspect and you will get new clients coming to you because of it.

YOU -- If your advertising is a message to a potential new client, why talk about yourself?? Why not talk about what they want? Using the word 'you' implies that a specific focus on the individual client and will create a connection between you as the agent and them as your customer.

GUARANTEED -- The value of a guarantee is implied by the client, not you. Offering something that is guaranteed implies that you are true to your word; you can produce a desired result and are willing to back it up. Guarantees provide that same feeling of confidence in your clients by removing doubt and potential risk.

LARGEST -- It has long been thought that there is strength in numbers. The size of an organization has typically been thought as being the 'safest' choice merely based on the size. Remember, nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. So, whatever you can say about being the largest in your market space will help you. It doesn't have to be the largest brokerage. It could be the largest internet presence, the largest service network, etc.

There are certainly more words that fall into this group, but I think you get the hint. Your tag line isn't about a catchy slogan or a cutesy jingle. It is your very first attempt at selling your client that you are the best choice for them. In order for this to work effectively, you should be talking about what THEY want from you rather than what you want to be seen as in their eyes. Talk about what the client wants...not about patting yourself on the back for possessing those same qualities they automatically assume exist merely based on the fact that you hold the position that you hold. Therefore, choose your words carefully.

Need more clients?? Real Estate Client Referrals can help you!! Fan us on Facebook; Follow Clint on Twitter; Call 800-977-7058 for more information on how we can help you make more money!

I Need Your Help. Your Reward? Great Blogs With Great Info. REBlogworld/Blogworld Expo In Las Vegas!

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:32:53 -0500

Please help Matt get to ReBlogworld in Las Vegas!

Via Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access):

photo courtesy of nodomain1

I love blogging.

You may have noticed before, but it's a fact, I love to blog about real estate. It's good for my business, but I actually find it enjoyable too. In that vein, I would like to make it to this year's Blogworld and New Media Expo (including REBlogworld). Of course, these things cost money and there are expenses...blah blah blah. However, Alltop is sponsoring a contest to allow 3 lucky winners to attend this year's event.

I entered, but I need your help. First of all, I misread a rule, which has seriously put me behind the curve. I thought I was doing okay, but realized that the rule was rather specific and I needed to get moving - so I turn to you, the ActiveRain community for help.

The grand prize for the contest is entrance to the conference as well as hotel accommodations. With those two paid for, I can deal with the flights and food for the three days. I need to win this. Imagine how many blogs I'll churn out when I get back with all the new info I've acquired. Think of me as your Blogworld corespondent. I will report back to you - all you have to do is get me to the top! I don't know what it will take to get me there (I don't even know who's in the lead), but with the power of the ActiveRain and Twitter community, I'm willing to bet (Las Vegas - get it?) that I can win this!

Imagine how this will benefit the ActiveRain community as well! Having the power of 160K+ members pushing to help me accomplish this goal will certainly make people think that ActiveRain is the place to be.

Here's what I need:

First, reblog this post if you can. By spreading the word, there will be more opportunity for more people to act upon it. Put it in every category you can think of and make sure everyone of ActiveRain's members see it! I could care less about the points gained from the reblogs, so ActiveRain can pull the points - this is about getting me to Blogworld and REBlogworld.

Second, you need to retweet the information necessary in order for me to be counted. Visit MyAlltop page and at the bottom you will see a "retweet" button:

Click the retweet button. Click it whenever you have a few free seconds. Tell your friends to click it. Please don't sit there and click it 100 times in a row. I don't want to get the boot for "stuffing the ballot box." The contest ends at 8:00 am Pacific Time on October 1, 2009, so I need your clicks up until then. Let's get as many as we can and show everyone the power of ActiveRain, get me to Vegas, and let me bring back and share all that I have learned!

Please use the retweet button and have everyone you know retweet it too! This would be huge for me and I appreciate all the help I can get!
All content ©2008-2009 by Matt Stigliano, Realtor® unless otherwise noted.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor®

RE/MAX Access

(210) 646-HOME

www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Should I Have My House Appraised Prior To The Listing?

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:13:52 -0500

This is one of the most popular questions I get when meeting with sellers when they are preparing to put their homes on the market. The answer is, it depends.

Appraisals cost between $400 to $700 in our area. Most of the time your REALTOR'S® market analysis will provide you with much of the same information as an appraisal.

When an agent comes over to talk to you about selling your home, they will most likely, have a market analysis of the current market conditions in your neighborhood and the nearby surrounding areas. They will compare what homes, similar to yours, listed for and sold for in your area. An appraiser will potentially use the same information, but will go into more depth about each property.

So, how do you decide whether or not to have an appraisal done prior to listing your home?

If you live in a typical suburban neighborhood where the homes are similar in style and square footage, you probably don't need to have the home appraised prior to listing your home. The information on your REALTOR'S® market analysis should be current and give you a very good idea of the market value of your home. If you are still not sure, maybe you should talk to a couple of different agents and see that they are all in about the same price range, that should give you a good number for your home's value.

My advice to a seller would be that you should have a professional appraisal done prior to listing your home if you have a VERY unique property. Maybe something that is on the historical register or something that was built exclusively for you by an architect and there is not another similar home in the area. If you fit into one of these categories, I would strongly suggest pre-appraising your home.

If you do decide to have your home appraised prior to listing, hear me when I say that the appraised value is one person's opinion. If you hire 3 appraisers, you will probably get 3 different values. Just because one person's opinion of value is one number, the market value might be a different story. What someone is willing to pay for the house is the market value and what your home is ultimately worth. Don't let yourself get hung up on what an appraiser says your home is worth. If it takes time for your home to sell, other homes may come on the market and go to closing which will affect the value of your home.

The other thing that is important for you, a seller with appraisal in hand, to know is the appraisal you have is for your own knowledge. If a purchaser is placing financing on your home, the purchaser and the purchaser's lender will have their own appraisal.

The bank will most likely use an appraisal from an appraiser that is on the bank's approved appraiser list. They want to make sure that the buyer is not paying too much and that they are not lending too much money for a property.

Now with all of that said, Appraisals are very controversial these days with all of the new lending laws and guidelines. We have appraisers come from out of local areas doing appraisals and it is making the sales and loan process difficult. I think it is important for sellers to understand that the buyer's appraiser, in most cases, is going to be the appraisal that will be used for financing.

Ultimately it is up to you, if it you believe your home needs to be appraised before listing, you can do that. Just make sure you listen to your professional REALTOR® to tell you how much your home will sell for!!

Original Post Here

Time Is Running Out For First Time Home Buyers!!

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:50:47 -0500

First off let me say that I am the queen of procrastination. I am not getting on to you, but I know human nature and I am here to tell you, time is running out. I can't tell you how many research papers I did the night before they were due in school. I made my believe I did my best work "under pressure".

Well, the same for you if you are a first time home buyer and you would like to take advantage of the potential $8000 credit, time is a wasting. You need to take action and take it now!! You have, at this point, waited until the last minute. You have 80 days from today to qualify for your tax credit . Today is "the night before your project is due".

You say, "what do you mean? I have until December 1st to buy my home?" Hear me loud and clear, YOU HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 1ST TO CLOSE AND OWN YOUR HOME, NOT WRITE YOUR OFFER!!!! There is a big difference. Closing and owning the home and having an accepted offer on a home are two different things. Hear me one more time, you must close and own the home to qualify for the credit.

Okay, so what does that mean, what's the big deal you say? That means you need to find an agent, get qualified for a mortgage and find a home by the end of November. If the average closing takes 30 to 60 days, that means you only have 20 days to find your home!!

This means that you can search for the home you want to make an offer on, negotiate your contract and get to closing by November 30th to beat the clock for December 1st!!

So let's look at some of the details involved in getting you to closing by November 30th;

Have all of your finances in order to hand over to your loan officer to get your loan done in time
Finding a seller that can move and close by the deadline
Making sure all inspection items can be finalized by the deadline
Competing with other buyers who have procrastinated who will take up time slots to close at the last minute

Here is the most important thing I would like to say to anyone who is now trying to take advantage of the tax credit, DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR CLOSING ANY LATER THAN NOVEMBER 15TH. LET ME SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR CLOSING ANY LATER THAN NOVEMBER 15TH IF YOU ARE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX CREDIT!!

Why? Because there are so many details involved with your loan and what and underwriter wants in a file these days it may delay your closing. You may need a week for a seller to make a last minute mandatory underwriter repair and you will need the time, with a major holiday in the middle of your closing, to make it by the deadline. The underwriter may ask for documentation from you for your loan package, there are many things that can go haywire at the last minute and you need a time cushion to get to closing on time. Just think how many other people are going to try to close at the last minute. The banks and title lawyers are going to be swamped trying to get everything done by the deadline.

You still have time but you will need to act now. Call your real estate agent and loan officer to get started right away. Remember, it is the proverbial "night before your project is due

Fabulous 2nd Floor Condo!

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:47:27 -0500

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

7923 Coriander Dr, Gaithersburg, MD

Fabulous Condo!

1BR/1BA Condo

offered at $114,900

Year Built	1987
Sq Footage	759
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$165 per month

DESCRIPTION

Pristine home with neutral decor. Original owner has kept this unit in excellent condition! Extra storage space, nice balcony and a newer furnace. Come take a look!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C

- Central heat

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Clubhouse

- Swimming pool(s)

- Tennis court(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Living Room	Dining Room
Kitchen	Kitchen
Bedroom	Patio

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 31, 2009, 11:17am PDT

Silver Spring Price Reduction! OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-4pm

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:02:18 -0500

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

2100 Marymont Road, Silver Spring, MD

OPEN HOUSE Sunday 1pm to 4pm PRICE REDUCTION!!! Luxury One Level Living! Gleaming Hardwood Floors, New Gourmet Kitchen. Four En Suite Bedrooms. S

5BR/4.5BA Single Family House

offered at $639,900

Year Built	1948
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	127,631 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

OPEN HOUSE Sunday 1pm to 4pm

Large Custom Rambler, with new kitchen. Maple Cabinets, granite, Thermador 5 burner cooktop, double ovens.
Beautiful Sunroom across the back of the house over looking back patio and pool.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor	• Tile floor
• Family room	• Living room	• Bonus/Rec room
• Dining room	• Breakfast nook	• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven	• Microwave
• Granite countertop	• Attic	• Basement
• Washer	• Dryer	• Laundry area - inside
• Balcony, Deck, or Patio	• Yard	• Swimming pool

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

• All Brick Construction

• Built In Swimming Pool

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Living Room w/fireplace
Kitchen	Sunroom
Rec room w/firplace	Swimming Pool

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 16, 2009, 11:53am PDT

Silver Spring OPEN HOUSE Sunday 1-4pm

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:27:34 -0500

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

2100 Marymont Road, Silver Spring, MD

OPEN HOUSE Sunday 1pm to 4pm Luxury One Level Living! Gleaming Hardwood Floors, New Gourmet Kitchen. Four En Suite Bedrooms. Swimming Pool!

5BR/4.5BA Single Family House

offered at $650,000

Year Built	1948
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	127,631 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Large Custom Rambler, with new kitchen. Maple Cabinets, granite, Thermador 5 burner cooktop, double ovens.
Beautiful Sunroom across the back of the house over looking back patio and pool.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor	• Tile floor
• Family room	• Living room	• Bonus/Rec room
• Dining room	• Breakfast nook	• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven	• Microwave
• Granite countertop	• Attic	• Basement
• Washer	• Dryer	• Laundry area - inside
• Balcony, Deck, or Patio	• Yard	• Swimming pool

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

• All Brick Construction

• Built In Swimming Pool

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Living Room w/fireplace
Kitchen	Sunroom
Rec room w/firplace	Swimming Pool

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 10, 2009, 2:19pm PDT

2100 Marymont Road Silver Spring MD 20906 Remodeled from Top to Bottom!

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:02:23 -0500

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

2100 Marymont Road, Silver Spring, MD

Luxury One Level Living! Gleaming Hardwood Floors, New Gourmet Kitchen. Four En Suite Bedrooms. Swimming Pool!

5BR/4.5BA Single Family House

offered at $650,000

Year Built	1948
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	127,631 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Large Custom Rambler, with new kitchen. Maple Cabinets, granite, Thermador 5 burner cooktop, double ovens.
Beautiful Sunroom across the back of the house over looking back patio and pool.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Tile floor
Family room	Living room	Bonus/Rec room
Dining room	Breakfast nook	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Granite countertop	Attic	Basement
Washer	Dryer	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard	Swimming pool

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

All Brick Construction

Built In Swimming Pool

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Living Room w/fireplace
Kitchen	Sunroom
Rec room w/firplace	Swimming Pool

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 25, 2009, 5:54pm PDT

Absolutely Fabulous Home 22 Inkberry Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:04:05 -0500

Audrey Forshey | RE/MAX Realty Group | 301-921-2672

22 Inkberry Circle, Gaithersburg, MD

Absolutely Fabulous Home

3BR/2.5BA Townhouse

offered at $389,000

Year Built	2003
Sq Footage	1,924
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	1,867 sqft
HOA/Maint	$83 per month

DESCRIPTION

Absolutely fabulous home! Large home with a 3 level bump out. Center island kitchen is the hub of the house w/ sunroom & FRoom - with fireplace off of the kitchen. Large living room welcomes you right into the home. New trex style deck off of the kitchen level. Enormous MBR suite, bath with large jetted tub. Lots of storage. Rough in basement only needs fixtures, floor & bath finished.

see additional photos below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 6	Photo 1
Photo 2	Photo 3
Photo 4	Photo 5

Contact info:

Audrey Forshey

RE/MAX Realty Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 6, 2009, 9:42am PDT

Super Home In Mint Condition 4302 Independence Street, Rockville, MD

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:00:02 -0500

Audrey Forshey | RE/MAX Realty Group | 301-921-2672

4302 Independence Street, Rockville, MD

Super Home in Mint Condition

3BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $289,000

Year Built	1955
Sq Footage	8,067
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Super Home in Mint Condition!!! Light and bright with floor to ceiling windows. Freshly painted and new neutral carpet on the main level. Hardwoods on the main level too. Updated bathroom, new vinyl siding and soffits. Off street parking and carport! Beautiful BIG backyard!! Full finished basement with plenty of storage. NOT A SHORT SALE OR REO!

see additional photos below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 4
Photo 2	Photo 3
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Audrey Forshey

RE/MAX Realty Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 6, 2009, 8:42am PDT

Turn Key Condition Germantown, MD 20874

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:57:02 -0500

Audrey Forshey | RE/MAX Realty Group | 301-921-2672

13703 Creola Court, Germantown, MD

Turn Key Condition!

2BR/2BA Condo

offered at $264,900

Year Built	1990
Sq Footage	1,629
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	3
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$57 per month

DESCRIPTION

Turn Key Condition. Come see this model like townhome condo. Skylights and big windows let the sunshine in!! Freshly painted, brand new carpet and new pergo floors make this home shine. Generous sized bedrooms with tons of closet space. Upper level has large loft that could be family room, office or you could close it off for 3rd bedroom. Lender letter & financials. NOT A SHORT SALE!

see additional photos below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 4	Photo 1
Photo 2

Contact info:

Audrey Forshey

RE/MAX Realty Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 6, 2009, 8:13am PDT

Breathtaking Home

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:51:41 -0500

Audrey Forshey | RE/MAX Realty Group | 301-921-2672

7509 Boxberry Terrace, Gaithersburg, MD

Breathtaking Home

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $567,000

Year Built	1993
Sq Footage	2,401
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	7,374 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Breathtaking home! This home has everything!!! Gorgeous hardwoods on the main level. Gourmet kitchen with 42inch cabinets, new appliances, corian, ceramic tile and it's open to family room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and a fireplace. Beautiful deck, patio and landscaping all backing up to parkland.

see additional photos below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Audrey Forshey

RE/MAX Realty Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 6, 2009, 9:35am PDT

Designer Top Floor Loft Condo Germantown, MD 20874

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:07:17 -0500

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

20412 Shore Harbour Drive, Germantown, MD

Two Story Loft Condo Completely Remodeled from top to Bottom. High End Designer Finishes through out. Chef's Custom Kitchen, Maple Hardwood Flooring

2BR/3BA Condo

offered at $310,000

Year Built	1992
Sq Footage	1,780
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	1 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$320 per month

DESCRIPTION

Top Floor Condo flooded with Light, big paladian windows. Granite counter tops, built in top of the line kitchen appliances. Every pull out, spice drawer, lazy susan you could want in the custom 42 inch Maple cabinets. Slate flooring in the kitchen, extra storage, sky lights. Custom bathroom vanities with marble tops and vessel sinks. High end fixtures through out

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Dining room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Granite countertop
Stainless steel appliances	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Guest parking	Clubhouse	Storage space(s)
Swimming pool(s)	Tennis court(s)	Lake
Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Heated Kitchen and master Bathroom Flooring

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Living Room	Kitchen
Master Bedroom	Master Bath
Loft	Fall Lake

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 5, 2009, 8:31pm PDT

Five Tips To Be a Successful Landlord in Montgomery County Maryland. . .

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:08:36 -0500

When I meet with sellers these days the discussion of renting their home has become a popular topic. Maybe they are in a situation where they cannot sell and clear enough money to justify selling the home, but they are in a situation where they can keep their current home and still move on to their next home. sell.

In order to do this there are some financial requirements your next lender will require of you in order to qualify for your next mortgage, please consult with a competent mortgage professional to make sure you qualify and help you make sound decisions about your mortgage situation.

In the event you decide to become a landlord because it makes financial sense for you some of the things you will want to consider are ;

1. Get a good accountant. They will be a Godsend at the end of the year for the items that will now become tax deductible to you. Things like capital improvements, depreciation, writing repairs off etc. When you have these types of things to consider as a landlord, you don't always have to get even steven rent to mortgage payment. For me personally, I lose a little on one property but it comes out in the wash at the end of the year and I have a great tenant, which is worth it's weight in gold to me.

2. You will need to emotionally detach yourself from the property. You notice I called it a "property"? It is not your home so much anymore, think of it as an investment. I will tell you that you will need a strong stomach to be a landlord. One reason is that most people will not love your property as much as you do and you may have to deal with a tenant that doesn't pay the rent on time and you may have to juggle the payments sometimes.

3. Make sure that each person interested fills out an application that lets you verify their employment and their credit. You will want to make sure that your potential client has a steady job and that they make the income that they say they do. There are a couple of ways that I verify this as an agent. The first thing I will do is ask for a copy of identification and two copies of pay check stubs. That way you can see that they get paid about the same amount every couple of weeks. If the potential tenant wants you to verify their employment with a phone call to a supervisor, make sure you call the main company phone number and ask for the human resources department to verify their income and employment. You will want to make sure they don't have you calling their friend. Get something in writing from the HR department verifying the information.

4. Pull Credit. When you have pulled credit on the potential tenant, you will want to review their credit. If you do not know how to read a report, contact the person who pulled the report and ask them to explain it to you. Optimately you will want to have someone with a score near or above 700. That is the number I look for. This will show that they tenant has a good track record of paying their bills in a timely fashion. It is really the only gage that shows how timely they pay their bills. It is not a guarantee, but it is probably your best gage of how timely you will be paid.

5. The last item I make sure that EVERY landlord in Montgomery County Maryland knows about is the fact that you must have a license to be a landlord. It costs $95 a year and you have got to have it. The county says so, and it is part of a standard Montgomery County lease. If you, as a landlord, have a dispute with your tenant - I am even talking about whether or not the rent has been paid or not - and you do not have a license you may not be able to make a claim on the back rent. You will need to consult an attorney, but I personally know someone that lost thousands of dollars by simply not having their county license to be a landlord. If you need an application Click here for one now.

These are basic tips to get you started as a landlord. Remember the people living in your house are people and have feelings. I find that by treating my tenants with respect, fixing things immediately if they are broken they in turn take better care of my property and treat me with the same respect in turn.

If this information seems like too much for you to deal with, you can always hire a professional property management company to manage the property for you. They will most likely charge you a monthly fee, but will be the person that screens the applicants, fields the calls in the middle of the night when the A/C breaks for you so you don't have to deal with these items.

If you would like information on property management companies feel free to contact me and I can put you in touch with a professional management company.

Germantown MD Top Floor Condo Price Reduced to $169,000

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:32:12 -0500

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

18020 Chalet Dr., Germantown, MD

Fabulous Top Floor 2 BR 2BA Condo

2BR/2BA Condo

offered at $189,900

Year Built	1989
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$170 per month

DESCRIPTION

This 2 BR 2 Full Bath condo is light and bright with skylights in the kitchen and eating area. Newer appliances in kitchen. Cozy fireplace in living room. Full size laundry room with full sized washer and dryer. Large bedrooms, master with walk-in closet. Balcony and storage for all of your extra things. Neutral decor throughout.

see additional photos below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 6

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 24, 2008, 10:20am PST

Open House 4/26/2009 7509 Boxberry Terrace Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:10:31 -0500

Come See this Country French Beauty today from 1:00 to 4:00

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Reatly Group | 301-921-2672

7509 Boxberry Terrace, Gaithersburg, MD

Country French Beauty

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $567,000

Year Built	1993
Sq Footage	2,401
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	7,374 sqft
HOA/Maint	$29 per month

DESCRIPTION

Immaculate and lovingly cared for home by original owner. The large gourmet center Island kitchen is the hub of the home. You will love the hardwood floors on the main level. Also, the kitchen has 12" ceramic tile on the diagonal for a custom look. You will love sitting on your large deck amongst the beautiful blooming trees. The spa like master suite will make any owner happy. Turn key, ready to move in, truly a lovely home and aggressively priced to sell.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Bonus/Rec room	Office/Den	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Attic	Basement
Washer	Dryer	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking	Swimming pool(s)	Tennis court(s)
Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Paver Patio With Firepit

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior	Kitchen
Dining Room	Family Room
Rec Room	TV/Media Room

Contact info:

Audrey June-Forshey

RE/MAX Reatly Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Apr 26, 2009, 6:52am PDT

Spending Some Green, Making Some Green, and Keeping Mother Earth Green . . .

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:09:19 -0500

Seems I have been green longer than I care to admit. Ever since I was a kid, like 40, there I said it, years ago. My mom is from Germany and they have always recycled and reused as part of their culture for years before we showed up.

We never wasted anything, brown grocery bags, they were our trash bag, when they changed to the plastic kind, ditto. If we ever got food in those plastic containers, we reused them to save leftovers. We always found at least a second use for everything. Thanks Mom, who knew you were so cool??

We had those grocery bags that you took to the grocery store way back when. However, when I went to the grocery store we would never use them back then, they weren't so cool. None of my friends did it , you know what I am talking about. Now it is the THE thing.

Fast forward to today, I am the recycle police in my office. Actually, I am pretty obnoxious about it and making sure others follow the green rules as well. Living in Montgomery County Maryland, it is pretty easy to recycle. They provide residents with recycle bins for paper and plastic and we have free pick up once a week.

I was showing a condo in a high rise in Bethesda and there was a representative from the county speaking to the building manager. He was telling, actually insisting, the manager that they need to have the paper recycle bin next to the mailbox area in the lobby so the residence could automatically throw away their junk mail/paper right there in the lobby.

If you are a business in Montgomery County, MD it is mandatory that you have recycle bins for paper and plastic. I swear I will pull regular paper I find in the trash can and put it in the bin. My assistant thinks I am a nut. Too bad, I have my convictions.

I was looking for a marketing idea for a "Pop by". If you are a Buffini student you will know what a pop by is. For those of you who are not, a pop by is when you have an item of value to drop off to your past client. One day I had an "Aha Moment" for a great pop by idea and it was a very green one that I thought I would share with you.

I was in Whole Foodsand they had the reusable grocery bags. You know the ones I wouldn't be caught dead with when I was younger? Well there they were, .99cents each. I bought 150 of them for my pop bys.

So what I did was group the bags in twos and made a postcard that said the bags were from me. I tied them together with a ribbon with the note that said they were a way to pay it forward to our Mother Earth. Then drove around to my past clients homes and dropped them off. Some of my folks were home and it was fun to see them too.

I will tell you that I got the most calls and emails from those bags. I still need to do another run to more of my clients and will because I had such a great response from the bags.

The good news is that you spend some green and everyone is happy to help Mother Earth breath a little easier.

By TwitterIcon.com

Social Networking and The Montgomery County Women's Council of REALTORS(R)

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:11:27 -0500

I was asked by the Montgomery County Maryland Women's Council of REALTORS® to give a presentation about what I have learned about social networking in the last couple of years. I was honored to be asked and so I went last Wednesday to see the members of WCR

I put my presentation together, keeping it simple for myself and for the members to not be overwhelmed by the massive amount of information that goes along with social networking. I thought Blogs, Social Networks and Micro-blogging would be the a good place to start. I am far from being and über geek or any kind of expert, but I have taken many classes over the last year, and still do now, to learn about this ever evolving way of doing business.

I put my presentation together, simple and what I hoped would be clear for the members to understand. My RE/MAX broker was great and loaned me the projector for my presentation. I got there, set everything up, had my cup of coffee, waited for the meeting to be called to order and wouldn't you know the bulb burns out in the projector!! Never a good thing for a presentation, let alone my nerves. Trying to fix it, to no avail, we decide to just us my laptop, turn down the lights and press on.

My main focus of the presentation was what Social Networking was, why we should care about it, and how can someone get started.

My suggestions for the group, that have worked for me personally were:

ActiveRain because it is a real estate community
RealEstatetomato because of the extensive training
Facebook because we all need friends and exposure
Twitter is easy and part of my social network

I told the members that social networking was the future of real estate marketing not only for Listing and selling homes, but also for branding ourselves in our community.

I think several understood what I was saying and asked me several questions. I told them I was not a technical person but would find out the answers for the things I did not know. I think one of the biggest things I had going for me was that I am not a technical computer person, I am a REALTOR® who can explain this type of information in a way that non technical people can understand. We speak the same language of marketing homes not html.

I had a great time with the members and was flattered to be asked. Funny though, I think if I am involved with these groups, I think I am pretty mainstream, but I found that it is not popular as I thought. I hope the members found my information helpful and will become active in social networking.

I hope that the members will take some time to explore these networks that I have shared with them. I think they will be amazed at the support that they will receive from others who are already active in Social networking, there is nothing to be intimidated about, jump in! I hope the members of WCR will try to join one network at a time, slowly learning how to be a participant in the paradigm shift of our industry.

Besides, I got new followers on Twitter :)

Fabulous Top Floor Condo

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:02:11 -0500

Audrey Forshey | RE/MAX Realty Group | 301-921-2672

18020 Chalet Drive #301, Gaithersburg, MD

Bright Top Floor Condo

2BR/2BA Condo

offered at $169,000

Year Built	1989
Sq Footage	1,062
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$170 per month

DESCRIPTION

Fabulous top floor condo. Light and bright with skylights in kitchen eating area. Newer appliances in the kitchen. Cozy fireplace in the living room. Full size laundry room with washer and dryer. Large bedrooms, Master with walk in closet. Balcony and storage room for all your extra things. Neutral decor throughout. Great price --- shows well. Lender letter and financials with offers.

see additional photos below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Cozy fireplace	Spacious living room
Newer appliances	Skylights in kitchen
Full size washer/ dryer	Lots of light

Contact info:

Audrey Forshey

RE/MAX Realty Group

301-921-2672

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 30, 2009, 7:54am PDT

First Time HomeBuyers Tax Credit - $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit - The specifics

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:23:33 -0500

Thanks to Jeff, here is a clear concise list of the details of the First time home buyer tax credit.

Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):

First Time Homebuyers - In my opinion, this is one of the best times to buy in the last 10 years. Here are a few reasons why.

Home values are done 10% to 15% in many areas

Many foreclosures to choose from, possibly getting a better deal

Mortgage interest rates are just about the lowest in 25 years - interest rates from 4.5% to 5.5%

$8,000 first time homebuyers tax credit - Up to $8,000 depending on your purchase price

The tax credit was revised in the 2009 stimulus bill. So how does the first time homebuyers tax credit work and how different is it from last years $7,500 tax credit? It's very simple and I won't got into full details, just the basics. But let's first define a first time home buyer - someone who had not owned a home 3 years previous to January 1st, 2009. In regards to the $7,500 tax credit, you couldn't own a home from July 2, 2005, through July 1, 2008. This revived tax credit is good for any first time homebuyer buying after December 31st, 2008 and up to November 31st, 2009.

So what do you need to know?

The maximum tax credit is $8,000 for either a single taxpayer or a married couple filing jointly. It is 10% of the purchase price. So in order to get the maximum credit, the purchase price must be $80,000 or more.

This tax credit is not paid back like the first one of $7,500.

There are income restrictions which can range from $150,000 to $170,000 for a joint return or from $75,000 to $95,000 for a single return. There are other factors involved when determining the actual income restrictions.

This credit can't be used if you are buying a home from a close relative, which is to include a spouse, a grandparent, child, or even a grandchild.

You can only use this tax credit for your primary home, not for a second home or an investment property.

Purchasers who utilize revenue bond financing can use this credit. With the $7,500 credit, this was not allowed.

If you sell your home within 3 years of the purchase date, the entire credit is recaptured.

There are a few ways to obtain this first time homebuyers tax credit. You can certainly file for your monies after you buy your dream house. You can also file an amended return if you buy your home after April 15th. But there is one other way to obtain some of this tax credit before you buy your home. Here is how.

If you believe that you are buying a home prior to the deadline date of December 1st, 2009, you can actually reduce your income tax withholdings. You can reduce up to the amount of the credit allowed, which will allow you to accumulate cash. This is done by raising your take home income, in which the money accumulated can then be applied to the purchase of your new home.

I am not a tax accountant, so it is mandatory that you speak to your accountant. But you would need to adjust your withholdings amount on your W-4 through your employer or if self-employed, through your quarterly estimated tax payments. Here are the rules and guidelines for your income tax withholdings. IRS publication 919 in how to adjust your withholdings. Keep in mind, if you don't use this money, you will have to repay it back. Overall, the $8,000 tax credit should be thought about when buying a new home.

Disclosure : This information is based on what I have read in regards to the new stimulus bill of 2009. Please talk to your tax accountant when it comes to the specifics of this tax credit and in regards to gifts and what is allowed before being taxed.

- FHA Loans - USDA Loans - VA Loans -

- Energy Efficient Mortgages -

- Conventional Loans - 203 k loans -

- Mortgages -

Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert

For more information about the 2009 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers : 2009 Tax Credit

For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags !!!!

Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Belonger

Long and Foster Head to take over reigns at FHA...Obama got this one right !

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:45:32 -0500

My Friend John MacAurther from Long and Foster, posted this announcement. I thought I would pass it along to show one of our local folks will be heading up FHA.

Via John MacArthur Branch Manager (Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc.):

Long & Foster Leader to Get Top FHA Post

By: Diana Olick, CNBC Real Estate Reporter | 21 Mar 2009 | 08:01 PM ET

President Obama is planning to name the head of Long & Foster Real Estate to lead the Federal Housing Administration, CNBC has learned.

Dave Stevens

Dave Stevens, president and chief operating officer at Long & Foster, likely will be named to the post Tuesday or Wednesday, sources said.

With housing at the centerpiece of the White House's economic rescue plan, the leader of the housing agency will be critical in making sure the plan is implemented.

Among Obama's goals are to help rescue homeowners facing foreclosure and to improve the regulatory process in the mortgage industry. FHA would be central in dealing with many of the issues the president has outlined.

David H. Stevens is a personal friend of JMac while also serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Long & Foster Companies which includes Long & Foster Real Estate and its' Affiliated Businesses including Mortgage, Title, Insurance, and Home Service Connections, and David joined the Long & Foster Companies in July, 2006 as President of Affiliated Businesses. Prior to joining The Long & Foster Companies, Stevens was Executive Vice President, National Wholesale Manager responsible for all sales, operations, and finance for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage's wholesale channel.

Prior to his joining Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Stevens was Senior Vice President of the Single family business at Freddie Mac where he was responsible for all sales, marketing, affordable lending, product development, communications, and loan prospector for the firm. In this role, David served as lead spokesperson for the firm and managed all aspects related to sales, customer management, market share, and business strategy.

Stevens began his career at World Savings bank, where after 16 years; he was promoted to Group Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager for the mortgage division.

Stevens was the founding Executive sponsor of the Woman's Mortgage Industry Network, and coordinated the first Latino initiative joint venture with Freddie Mac and Latino mortgage industry leaders. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Long & Foster and the Real Estate Settlement Service Providers Council.

Who Should Attend The Home Inspection. . .

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:21:26 -0500

Today I had a home inspection. I was there with the inspector and the buyers. I don't do much other than let everyone into the house and answer questions about what the seller is obligated to do as per our MAR contract. That is about it.

The last inspection I went to, the same group of folks, me, the inspector, and the buyers. However, the inspection I had last week the listing agent was also present. I didn't think much of it at the time, but as I was driving back to the office I started to remember that the last few inspections I have had when I have sold homes from this particular company, the listing agent has been present? I will have to ask the listing agent the next time, but wondering if this has become a company policy?

While I don't really mind them being there and 9.5 times out of 10, I have a great relationship with an agent I do a transaction with, I think it hinders my buyers inspection?

I know that the inspector did not speak as freely as he normally does when a listing agent is not present. While there are no hard and fast rules that I have read on the contract, I don't think the seller nor the listing agent should be present at the inspection. I am sure if the company has a policy there is a reason, but I don't think that the buyer or the inspector feels as open during the inspection if someone is there "watching over" them.

I have read on some posts, where in some areas it is not customary for anyone but the inspector to be at the inspection so the inspection is not influenced in anyway. To that train of thought, I think it is good for the inspector to show buyers preventive maintanence items and helpful homeowner hints. If the inspector finds something, I think it is important for a purchaser to be there with the inspector so that the purchasers can see the item in question.

When I am the listing agent, I tell my sellers that they should not be at the inspection. I find that the seller takes everything so personal anyway. I tell them what they are responsible for in the contract and that the inspector is going to find something wrong with the house, it is their job to find defects, not to take it personal

I believe the if the buyer pays for the inspection that they have the right to be present at the inspection and shoudl expect some privacy during the inspection.

Social Networking Helps To Build Your Online Relationships . . .

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:11:45 -0500

What we all do here on Active Rain, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter - those are the ones I use the most - is, of course, called Social Networking.

With social networking there are many different aspects of it and why we do what we do and who we interact with. I started here on Active Rain and then all you know what broke loose. I found my inner geek and have never looked back. Not coming from a technology background, I had no idea what a widget was, much less what to do with it, but now I do. Well, at least I have an idea.

Nervous as I started, I started commenting and then final tried my hand a writing a blog or so. Amazed, I found this entire new world of people, who I now consider family and friends. The best part of social networks is that most people share their knowledge and insight with me about technology and in turn, I try to share some of the real estate knowledge I have with them. It works, and we all are more successful by helping and sharing. Helping and sharing, that is what it is all about.

So we are social inside of our computers, but there comes a time when we need to close our computers and go to things like and Inman Conference, or a REBar Camp. Currently you are reading about the Real Estate Tech South Confernce in Atlanta. If there is a conference like this near you and you can get there, GO. You will meet the Jeff Turners, Mike Simonsens, Ines Hegedus-Garcia, and Natalie Langfords of the social networking world. They are, I can not say it enough, the nicest people you will ever meet. When they talk and share with you, they are sincere and talking to you.

Social means meeting and interacting with the people you have realtionships with face to face, belly to belly with real live humans is the crux of all of you online efforts.

Having attended a few meet ups, a Confernce and REBCVA, the most fun is meeting the folks who live in your computer IRL( in real life). I got to meet my friend Nannette Sauders and have never looked back. I cannot tell you how attending one of these events will make all of the blogging and networking that you do, come full circle. You will have the best time to meet everyone and spend time with them. Most everyone you know here is a hundred times better IRL. Engaging with the folks that you read here and other sites will teach you even more things when you are in a social setting. It makes the connection real.

If you cannot attend one of these types of conferences, check to see if Dakno.tv is attending. They have been doing live feeds and you can sit and watch these conferences right from your computer. Ain't technology great. With that said, going is much better than just watching it on your television.

I encourage you to go to the next Tweet up, Meet Up, REBAR Camp, Confrence, NAR convention, you will have so much fun, meeting the people you interact with on a daily basis. You will be greeted with hugs and smiles. After you go, you will be so glad that you did. Look for me at the next get together, I know I will be excited to see you there.

Follow me on Twitter

Consumer Quickies: Five Things You Need To Know About The Mortgage Market Right Now!

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:22:40 -0500

If you are planning on shopping for a new home in today's real estate market these are the things you need to know in order to obtain financing. Every person's situation is different, but this is a great run down of the need to know information as you are shopping for a home. If you have more questions for what you qualify for specifically, give Jason a call and he will qualify you.

Via Jason Sardi, Mortgage Banker (FHA-VA-USDA-Conventional-Pennsylvania Loans):

If you are going to boogie, learn to dance.

As many of you know, the Mortgage Market is changing faster than Tom Welling's Superman character into his "get-up" in the television show, Smallville. It's truly a jungle out there and you'll need a Machete, Cargo Field Pants, and the proper Guide to navigate you through the ever growing foliage. As a guide in the jungle that is the Mortgage Industry, I wanted to give some simple bits of information to arm you on your journey.

In no particular order, please take note of the following as they may be pertinent along your travels:

As of April 1st, 2009, FHA will reduce the LTV's (loan amount compared to the value of your home) on cash-out transactions. It currently is 95% but that will be cut back to 85% real soon. To ensure you can get in before the guideline changes, an appraisal case number must be assigned to your home before said date.

100% Financing is still available! Yet, the only two products currently sporting this popular product are VA & USDA Loans. For more information and shameless self-promotion on the latter, click here. Might I add that if you are going to utilize 100% Financing, try to ensure you have money in the bank after the fact. Being a homeowner bears certain responsibilities. God forbid something goes wrong and you don't have Lenny The Landlord to fix the issue. You don't when you own a home. The responsibility falls on you.

Know your Credit Score. I can't stress how important that is these days. I got word from one investor today who has changed their minimum credit score on ALL Mortgage Products to 660. Most are at 620. A few still may go below that but proceed with caution. Know the rules and learn to use them to your advantage. For more extensive insight on Credit, grab that mouse and left click right here.

Pay close attention to what homes like yours are selling for (not just being listed for) in your area. That's a good indicator of what your home is currently worth in this market.

While the media may give you the heads up in the drop in interest rates, contact your Mortgage Professional to get the real scoop. Taking the anchor of CNN's advice on where Mortgage Rates are at are akin to asking me what the weather will be like tomorrow. By the way, you can expect a balmy day with hints of fog glazing the ides of morning... turning into a slightly breezy, overcast, but generally nice day. High will be 99 Degrees. Low will be -20. But don't quote me on that.

If you are considering buying a home in the least bit, be aware of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. It could prove to be another incentive (in addition to low interest rates and a large amount of inventory) to take that next step in owning your own home. It isn't a reason in of itself, yet it is icing on what could be a very delicious piece of cake.

I will be writing about five more useful tips very soon. I wanted to keep this short and sweet, like Ryan Seacrest:) Besides, you only have so much time on your hands while you sift your way through this jungle.

And if you aren't already a homeowner, you may want to take that leap. If you have the right Guide, you aren't just drawing on faith when you are in mid-air.

About The Author: Jason Sardi has been on the lending side of the Real Estate Business for over eight years. His passion for helping people and general disdain for con-artist blowhards has kept him trying to do right by as many people as possible along the merry way. You can reach this happy chap by email @ jsardi@ihmci.com or by phone @ 610-439-2166 ext. 229. He's a survivor in that jungle out there and has the scars to prove it:)